THE Northern Echo's business supplement has been named the best business newspaper in the North of England.

Business Echo fought off competition from a shortlist including the Journal, in Newcastle, the Evening Gazette, in Middlesbrough, and the Yorkshire Post to take the title of Business Newspaper of the Year in the npower-sponsored Northern Business Journalism awards.

The awards cover the northern region, from the Scottish Borders to the river Trent in the Midlands.

BBC Radio Two presenter Jeremy Vine hosted the award ceremony in Leeds. The judges included Professor Peter Cole, head of journalism at Sheffield University, Mike Ward, head of journalism at the University of Central Lancashire, Damien Waters, director of the CBI North West, Ken Symon, business editor of the Sunday Herald, in Glasgow, and npower's head of public relations Richard Frost.

Mr Frost said: "I would like to congratulate all those who were short-listed for an award; to be one of the final five chosen is a great achievement."

Visit the Business Echo website at www.businessecho.co.uk